Robot Power Supply and Battery Design
Size supply, wiring, fuse and battery from simultaneous stall/startup loads and required runtime.
Learning objective
Size supply, wiring, fuse and battery from simultaneous stall/startup loads and required runtime.
Components and tools
- Development board
- Current-limited low-voltage supply
- Digital multimeter
- Oscilloscope or logic analyser
- Emergency power disconnect
Safety before motion
- Do not short, puncture, overcharge or use damaged lithium batteries.nUse the correct chemistry charger and protected storage.nFuse near the energy source and provide a disconnect.
Practical procedure
- List every rail and peak/average load.nUse simultaneous motor stall for protection sizing.nAdd logic, sensor and conversion losses.nCalculate watt-hours and conservative runtime.nVerify connector, wire, fuse and regulator thermal ratings.
Measurement checkpoints
| Checkpoint | Expected | Instrument | Safety limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak current | Supply remains inside voltage limits | Scope/current probe | Component ratingsnRuntime |
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Check | Corrective action |
|---|---|---|
| Resets on acceleration | Peak current causes droop | Improve supply/wiring/capacitancenBattery hot |
Engineering sizing tools
Calculate before powering
Mandatory pre-start gate
Machine safety checklist
The simulated enable button remains locked until every item is confirmed.